How to dispose of weeds

Compost and mulch weeds

Compost your weeds in a closed compost bin or special weed bags.

You may also be able to mulch and re-use the weeds on your garden. Check our Pest search to see if the weed species is safe to compost.

Some species, such as moth plant, can only be composted through a garden waste collection service, not at home.

Where to dispose of weeds

Dispose of weeds in rubbish bins

You can put noxious weeds in your rubbish bin. For more information, see Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2019.​

Transfer stations

Most transfer stations accept green waste.

Check with your local station before you go.

Community weed bins for pest plants

The weed bins provide a free, easy and accessible pest plant disposal service.

We want more people to control pest plants on their property.

Free weed bins are available for use at the following sites:

Permanent bin locations

From 21 October 2023 permanent bin locations can be found at:

• Piha: Piha Domain, Seaview Road
• Huia: Huia Domain, Huia Road.

Pest weed bin weekends (temporary bin locations)

Weed bins will be available from 9am Saturday on specified weekends, from October 2023 to June 2024.

All bins are accessible after hours, except for Swanson.

An EcoMatters staff member will be available for weed advice on Saturdays, 9am to 3pm.

Important information to consider when using the community weed bins

What you can put in the bins

The community bins are for invasive weeds only, such as:

• Climbing asparagus
• Honeysuckle
• Jasmine
• Moth plant
• Plectranthus
• Privet – Chinese privet and Tree privet (small branches only)
• Tradescantia (also known as Wandering Willie)
• Wild ginger (seed heads and roots only – please compost the green stems onsite at your property)
• Woolly nightshade (seeds, roots and small branches only).

What you cannot put in the bins

Illegal dumping could cause this service to become more expensive and less viable for everyone.

We do not accept:

• bamboo
• large branches
• tree trunks
• nīkau / palm trees or fronds
• cabbage trees
• general garden waste and weeds from around kauri trees to prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease.

Thank you for helping us keep the Waitākere Ranges free from pest plants.

Order a weed collection

Call a private garden company to collect your garden waste on a monthly basis. They supply bins or bags.

There is a cost for this service.

We do not offer a green waste collection service.